The Institute of Development Studies (IDS), institutional base of the International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD), announced the appointment of its new director, Prof Anuradha Joshi, earlier this week.
Previously Director of Research at IDS, Joshi took over from Prof Peter Taylor and will lead the institute as it approaches its 60th anniversary in 2026.
“As IDS turns 60, the world faces multiple, interconnected global challenges that need to be addressed urgently,” she said in a statement, adding:
“At this critical juncture, I am deeply honoured to be taking forward our collective efforts in my new role as Director. IDS’s long-standing commitment to research, teaching, and engagement along with our partners, offers exciting opportunities to contribute to solutions that are rooted in sustainability, equality, and justice.”
Joshi holds a PhD in Public Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research interests lie in understanding citizen-state relations, particularly in areas of accountability, collective action, service delivery, and bureaucratic behaviour. She has also previously served as a member of the IDS Board of Trustees, and she holds a variety of external roles including as member of the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration.
Her contribution to research in South Asia has been instrumental in strengthening policies around governance reforms and public institutions. She has also worked with partners on research projects in Brazil, Ghana, Indonesia, Mozambique, and Vietnam.
Likewise, Joshi has worked with ICTD on several projects specifically on informality, gender, and taxation. Most recently, in March 2025, her research on the gendered impacts of taxation in lower-income countries, which she co-authored with ICTD’s Jalia Kangave and Vanessa van den Boogaard, was published in Development Policy Review.
Joshi’s appointment as IDS Director will continue to support ICTD’s work advancing research on equitable tax systems and domestic resource mobilisation in lower-income countries.
Reflecting on this development, ICTD Executive Director Giulia Mascagni said: “I am delighted to see Anu take on this important role at IDS. She is a brilliant scholar and resourceful leader, bringing to her new role a wealth of experience on both research and management.”
She added: “Her deep commitment to rigorous, collaborative research that strengthens governance and promotes equity has been evident throughout her work, including with ICTD on critical issues like gender and taxation. The whole ICTD team welcomes her appointment, and we look forward to continuing to advance our work under her leadership.”